Pfizer site one year on – investment and building blocks for jobs and growth

31 January 2012

The Task Force set up to mitigate Pfizer’s withdrawal from its Sandwich site has achieved a series of massive successes since news of the closure was announced one year ago.

The anniversary comes as it emerged that Pfizer is in detailed discussions with London and Metropolitan, as the preferred bidder for the site, which is now being marketed as Discovery Park.

Headed by Kent County Council Leader, Paul Carter, the Pfizer Task Force has secured millions of pounds of investment funding, and developed the building blocks to grow business and offset 2,400 direct job losses at the site and thousands of support jobs across East Kent.

The Pfizer Task Force’s key achievements include:

• Regional Growth Fund package – £40 million investment in direct support to business across East Kent. Linked with the East Kent Growth Strategy, the funding administered under ‘Expansion East Kent’ will unlock £300 million in private investment to create and maintain 5,000 jobs.
• Enterprise Zone designation – incentive package of business rate discounts and simplified planning.
• Flood defence package – £25 million investment (from Kent County Council, Pfizer and the Environment Agency) agreed to secure long-term future of the site.
• Immediate support for start up companies – accelerator grants of up to £20,000 and business support in place for new companies emerging from Pfizer.
• High Speed rail services from Sandwich and Deal, via Dover, significantly reducing journey times to/from London.
• Securing more than 700 jobs at Discover Park – following Pfizer’s decision to retain a presence on the Sandwich site, which secured hundreds of jobs in pharmaceutical science.

Kevin Lynes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “Pfizer’s detailed discussion over the sale of Discovery Park is excellent news. We are confident that with a partner such as London and Metropolitan the site has a viable future. This, together with the Enterprise Zone status, £40 million ‘Expansion East Kent’ funding available through the Regional Growth Fund and the flood defence package, makes Discovery Park a very attractive choice for business.

“We have met the enormous challenge set by government to mitigate the withdrawal of Pfizer from its site in Sandwich.

“The dedication and determination of the Pfizer Task Force, local MPs, government and other partners have produced intelligent, sensible solutions, with millions of pounds of funding now available to form the foundations for recovery and business growth in East Kent.”

Laura Sandys, Thanet South MP, said: “It was a really dark day for my constituents when Pfizer announced their exit. So with the Prime Minister’s support, we were able to establish the Sandwich Task Force working at the heart of Government. In the last year the Task Force has been able to galvanise all parts of Government and has knocked on the door of every Minister that could assist us. One year on, we have secured Enterprise Zone status, £40 million Regional Growth Fund, flood defence funding and immediate start-up grants for new businesses.

“With almost 1000 jobs now secure and a new buyer for the site in final negotiations, what seemed like a disastrous day a year ago looks much more promising. There is a lot more to do but we are on track and have demonstrated that Thanet and Sandwich have an economic future worth investing in and a skills-base that is attractive to any employer.”